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Editors Note: This is week number 42 since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer. Jerry has reported each week regarding the progress, treatment, feelings, events and thoughts as he goes through this challenge. If you have similar challenges why not give Jerry a call. Sometimes just talking to someone going through the same or similar situations will make a difference.
To reach Jerry email him at Jerry@JerryFowler.com. If you miss the weekly newspaper articles in the New Irmo News, The Lake Murray News, the Cayce/West Columbia News or the Northeast News you can catch up or go back to week one by going to Jerry’s web site at www.JerryFowler.com , look on the left side menu and click on Jerry’s Medical Updates.
From Jerry: One thing predictable about cancer is the ups and downs. The ups are high and the downs are low. A strong positive attitude and a lot of people praying for you is the power that keeps you going. This week I finished my 14th radiation treatment. Radiation seems to be easy. You feel nothing when the treatment is being administered. This takes about 15 minutes from beginning to end. The problems come with the accumulative effect that each treatment adds. Last week I told you of the very sore throat I had experienced after only 9 treatments. This is mainly because they are treating areas around my esophagus.
This week I had to stop eating solid foods. I can only eat soups with little or no substance in the soup, yogurt and some well cooked rice. The throat is being hit each day with the radiation so for the next 21 treatments we expect the throat to continue getting worst. When I checked with doctor Wright the only thing he could do is give a numbing medicine similar to what the dentist gives you before they give you a shot of Novocain. This last about 20 minutes and has not proven to be that effective so I just do the best I can without it.
Again this week I was denied the chance to receive my Chemo Treatments. Although the white cells did rise some they are still not up to where they should be so the doctor has advised me not to be out in the crowds. However this week we discovered another blood clot in my right leg. This clot is very large. About 8 inches long and an inch wide and very painful I might add. Dr. Babcock is very concerned about this clot and has doubled the Coumadin pills and I am giving myself shots of Lovenox twice per day. We must get the blood thinner. Combined with the low white cells Dr. Babcock decided not to give me Chemo.
Blood clots can be very serious so every effort is being made to get the blood where it needs to be so the clotting can subside.
I was monitored on Friday and will be monitored again on Sunday to see what the blood is doing.
The breaking out on the chest has continued to increase. Putting Steroid cream on the breaking out is one of the few remedies for this problem.
Throughout all this we have not completed any test to see where the cancer is. However we will do an X-Ray on January 2th to see what the general progress is. I fully expect to see a drastic reduction in the cancer and it would not surprise me to see the cancer completely gone.
As I told you last week the fortunate thing is the severe sore throat has not affected my voice. I can still talk, do my radio show and function. The most noticeable affect other that the breaking out on my chest and the sore throat is the fatigue. This is difficult to believe. I get up early, around 4AM each day in order to be at the radiologist by 7:30. Usually by 1 or 2PM I am completely drained of all energy. I try to schedule my appointments early in the morning to avoid being so tried late in the day.
Although this has been a year of trials, I am blessed. I have a wonderful wife, son and daughters along with a loving mother, two sisters and two brother in laws that really care about me. In addition I have many friends, business associates and school board members that are really pulling for me to beat this disease. That makes life worth everything.
Like I said in the opening sentence cancer is full of ups and downs. Many times these occur daily even minute by minute. Many people cannot deal with the pressure of these changes and quite understandably. When you have a friend or loved one going through these difficult times have them call me. Just talking with another person who is going through the same situations can make a difference in that person’s life.
My office number is 803-798-0555 or you can email me at Jerry@JerryFowler.com. I promise I will return the call or email in a very timely fashion.
Keep me in your prayers and be sure to tell your family you love them and if you have a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while, pick up the phone and don’t wait another day, another hour, or another minute to tell them you love them.
Just remember that day by day, in every way, by the grace of God, you are getting better and better.
Now let’s go out and create a terrific week. God bless each and every one of you.
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